Koch, George on mon 22 nov 04
Dear Joyce,
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I submitted the note below into the ongoing discussion about price, rude
comments, etc., but I don't think it ever appeared. Any idea why?
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George+
_________________________________________ .=20
Rev Dr George Byron Koch, Pastor (and Potter) .=20
Church of the Resurrection .=20
West Chicago IL 60185 .=20
www.resurrection.org .=20
Isaiah 64:8b We are the clay, and you are the potter. We are all formed
by your hand.
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________________________________
From: Koch, George=20
Sent: Saturday, November 20, 2004 9:24 AM
To: 'Clayart'
Subject: Bargaining about price and telling tall tales
One of life's interesting phenomena is how one culture regards something
as rude, that in another culture is neutral or even positive. Putting
your feet up here (US) is often a sign of comfort and relaxation -
feeling at home. In many cultures this is a rude gesture to anyone else
present.
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Bargaining on price falls in this category too. In our craft and art
culture, suggesting a lower price than what is asked is often considered
an insult to the seller. In other cultures, it is simply the beginning
of an expected, almost ritually required, haggling - arguing - until
settlement and reconciliation. Not only is no offense taken, the
bargaining is normative, and anyone buying something at the marked price
is considered foolish and obviously an outsider.
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Even more interesting is that in many of these same cultures, the object
itself is given value by the seller (in the haggling) by the tall tale
associated with it, which is almost never true in fact: "This pot was
made by my mother's brother in a rural village, using clay he dug and
glazes he made from the surrounding wildlife. Each pot takes a day and a
half to make by hand. These pots are the only means of support for him
and his seven children. His wife was killed by a tiger and he has to
support them alone. How could you insult me and defame my mother's
brother by offering such a low price?" Of course, the pot wasn't made
there but in factory in China, and the seller's mother does not even
have a brother, and the low price that the potential buyer offered is
not actually an insult, just the beginning of an amazing verbal exchange
and contest of wills and haggling ability. And for people in the
culture, this is all quite normal and fun and no one really gets mad or
insulted. It is a dance, and a means to discover if there is a price
which represents the value of the object to the buyer, at a sufficient
income to the seller, and if so, the deal is struck. It is all Economics
101, but through complex ritual.
=20
This is mostly not our method here in the US (with some exceptions), but
it is probably helpful to realize that it is our craft culture (and
artistic pride) that leads us to believe a low offer is an insult.
Sometimes it is, but often it is not, and it is hard to read motives.
Maybe we could learn to enjoy the dance.
=20
George+
_________________________________________ .=20
Rev Dr George Byron Koch, Pastor (and Potter) .=20
Church of the Resurrection .=20
West Chicago IL 60185 .=20
www.resurrection.org .=20
Isaiah 64:8b We are the clay, and you are the potter. We are all formed
by your hand.
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